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2019 CREATIVE AMBASSADORS ANNOUNCED!

CAD, in partnership with the Music and Entertainment Division, is pleased to announce the selected artists for the City’s 2019 Creative Ambassadors Program. Open to creative professionals across disciplines, the program provides official City designations and small stipends to Austin artists traveling outside of Texas in promotion of their creative projects.

Chosen by an independent selection panel comprised of local artists and arts administrators, the 2019 cohort represents a diverse group of creatives working in a range of artistic disciplines— from filmmaking and poetry to dance, music and more. During their national and/or international travels, the Creative Ambassadors will represent Austin through projects and performances that showcase the variety and caliber of Austin’s creative community. (All recipients will receive a $1000 stipend to assist with costs.) The selected artists will also meet with arts administrators or leaders of key cultural institutions in their destination cities to share information on Austin’s arts and explore possibilities for collaboration or creative exchange.

The selected artists were evaluated on their level of expertise in their chosen discipline, including the number of years they have been working in their artistic area and any awards or recognition they have received for their work. The selection panel also considered how the artists and their proposed projects would support the Creative Ambassador Program goals of enhancing Austin’s global profile as center of creativity; supporting the local creative community; and facilitating dialogue between other regional, national and international arts agencies and their communities. Ambassadors are appointed for a period of one year.

The Creative Ambassadors program is open to artists of all disciplines, including, but not limited to: musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, and performing artists. Austin-based individual artists and arts organizations who have confirmed plans to travel nationally or internationally to present or promote their work are eligible to apply. Applicants are evaluated on their level of expertise in their chosen discipline, including the number of years they have been working in their artistic area and any prior awards or recognition they have received for their work. The selection panel also considers how the artists and their proposed project will support the Creative Ambassador Program goals of enhancing Austin’s global profile as center of creativity; supporting the local creative community; and facilitating dialogue between other regional, national and international arts agencies and their communities. The Panel selects a diverse cohort, reflective of many artistic disciplines by artists from all cultural communities, including ALAANA (African American, Latinx, Asian American, Arab American, Native American) artists and arts organizations, plus applicants who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community or the differently-abled community.

Applications for the 2019 Creative Ambassador Program were accepted October 1- December 1, 2018. Applications for the 2020 Program will be accepted beginning in October 2019. Complete program guidelines may be found here,